Questions & Answers about ¿Qué tan grueso es ese bloque de hielo?
Why do we use qué tan to mean "how" here instead of cómo?
Can I use gordo instead of grueso to say "thick"?
Not in this case. Grueso is the correct word for the physical thickness, width, or depth of inanimate objects (like ice, walls, cables, or books). Gordo is generally used to mean "fat" or "overweight" when talking about people or animals.
Since ice melts and its thickness can change, shouldn't we use está instead of es?
Even though a block of ice might eventually melt, basic physical dimensions—like thickness, height, and overall size—are treated as defining characteristics of the object as it currently exists, so we use ser (es). You would typically only use estar if you are emphasizing a surprising change from the norm, such as exclaiming ¡Qué grueso está el hielo hoy! (How thick the ice is today!).
Why is it bloque de hielo instead of just hielo bloque like in English?